Navy Hospital Corpsman (HM) Requirements

The short answer. Hospital Corpsman is a Navy enlisted medical rating. That page also prints "Those seeking a position as a Hospital Corpsman must be U.S. citizens." The Navy joining page prints enlisted applicants may "Be a U.S. citizen; or Legal Permanent Resident (Enlisted)" and "Be between the ages of 17 and 41 for Enlisted programs." Those two Navy pages disagree on citizenship. If you are a permanent resident and not a citizen, treat the Hospital Corpsman line as the restrictive version and ask a recruiter, because it is the only version that satisfies the rating page. The navy.com HM page does not print an ASVAB number. MyNavy HR's Hospital Corpsman community page (August 2026 updates, read 2026-09-03) prints four qualifying lines: GS+AR+MK+VE ≥ 209, or GS+MK+2VE ≥ 209, or GS+AR+MK+VE ≥ 200 and CS ≥ 60, or PC+AR+MK ≥ 156. Those are four separate doors, not a combined score. Confirm the live pages and a recruiter before you sign.

Ready to Serve is not a Navy partner and does not place you.

ASVAB

MyNavy HR, August 2026 updates, ASVAB Requirements for HM (read 2026-09-03):

• GS+AR+MK+VE ≥ 209, or
• GS+MK+2VE ≥ 209, or
• GS+AR+MK+VE ≥ 200 and CS ≥ 60, or
• PC+AR+MK ≥ 156

Older copies of this article printed VE+MK+GS greater than 156, or AR+WK greater than 105. Those formulas are not on the ECM page opened 2026-09-03. Official 156 on the ECM is PC+AR+MK, and it is one of four doors.

Age, citizenship, and school

Age. The HM career page is silent. The joining page prints 17 to 41 for enlisted programs, with parental consent if you are not yet 18. Measuring point is enlistment in an enlisted program, not an HM-only line.

Citizenship. Two Navy pages disagree. Here is each:

• HM career page: "Those seeking a position as a Hospital Corpsman must be U.S. citizens."
• Joining page: "Be a U.S. citizen; or Legal Permanent Resident (Enlisted)."

Act on the HM line until a recruiter tells you a waiver exists. It is the only version that satisfies every Navy page opened for this article.

That page does not print a boot-camp week count. Field Medical Service School at Camp Lejeune, NC, or Pendleton, CA, is "if you apply and assignments are available," not automatic.

Contract length. The joining page says enlisted positions typically require four years, and longer-term training may involve five- or six-year obligations. The HM page does not print a five-year HM-only contract.

After A School

The navy.com page names Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as a civilian field, not as a card issued at graduation. MyNavy HR points serving Hospital Corpsmen at an EMT and Paramedic NEC instruction (L50A / L50B). That is an in-service path, not A School. Do not treat an NREMT card as automatic. If you need the civilian credential for fire or EMS, plan to show it.

This page does not reprint a pay table or the sitewide enlistment-bonus banner. Open militarypay.defense.gov for pay charts.

Next step

Read the live Hospital Corpsman page, the joining requirements, and the MyNavy HR HM community page, then talk to a recruiter. Sister MOS: Army 68W. Military pathway: /pathways/military.